Go Digital or Go Dark

Across the Adirondack North Country, independent theaters faced a looming deadline: To make the necessary transition to digital projection, or face the possibility of closing their doors.

Our small-town theaters are vital to keeping downtowns alive and serve an important role in ensuring strong, vibrant communities. ANCA and the Adirondack Film Society have been working to make sure our small town theaters don’t go dark. Working with theaters across Northern New York, the “Go Digital or Go Dark” campaign raised money for each theater to complete needed digital upgrade work. This was a one-time campaign to save these theaters from shutting their doors. Click here to watch a short video that was made to illustrate the need of this campaign.

Success stories

ANCA worked with each theater to help coordinate a community based campaign, as well as outreach to major donors and assist with grant applications. At campaign's conclusion, the funds were used to directly purchase the equipment.

Theaters that have successfully "Gone Digital" so far include: The Palace in Lake Placid, the Indian Lake Theater, The Strand in Old Forge, The State in Tupper Lake, and The Strand in Plattsburgh. We are working with The Hollywood in Au Sable Forks and The Strand in Schroon Lake to finish the work on those theaters.